Big Bazaar to launch Quiet Hour across 16 stores for shoppers on the autism spectrum on 1 April

Crowded spaces, bright lights and loud music is not everyone's idea of a fun,
shopping experience. Elderly people for instance, or someone who is ailing or
adults and children on the autism spectrum.

The needs of those in the last category are rarely considered, something that
Big Bazaar is out to change by launching Quiet Hour across
some stores in India, specifically keeping in mind the needs of people on the
autism spectrum.

On 1 April, one day ahead of World Autism Awareness Day, the
retail giant has announced plans to launch an Autism Quiet Hour
from 10.30 AM to 12 noon in across 16 stores in 16 cities.

During this period, there will be no announcements, reduced trolleys, dimmed
lights, a play zone, and a sensitized staff deployed at all these stores.

Encouraged by the response to the Quiet Hour held on a pilot basis in Mumbai
on 3 December last year, Big Bazaar has tied up with 17 NGOs and
organizations to make this happen on a larger scale.

We are piloting a first-of-its-kind concept in India on 1 April from 10.30
AM-12 noon on the eve of World Autism Awareness Day. A quiet Hour in 16
selected stores for families on the autism spectrum, intellectual
disabilities and anyone who would require less sensory stimuli in retail
stores. We, as a society, have neglected the needs of such families for
ages when what is needed is sensitization, acceptance and early
Intervention. We want to radically raise awareness on autism through Quiet
Hour and foster an inclusive India. - Vineet Saraiwala, Inclusion
Lead, Big Bazaar

Taking the lead

When it comes to fostering inclusion in the retail space, Big Bazaar has
taken the lead. From dedicated priority counters, a body wash in Braille
packaging, a dedicated sale day for people with disabilities and more
recently an inclusive fashion show.

Much planning and thought goes into every such exercise and the Quiet Hour is
no exception. Much planning and thought has been put into making this a
seamless operation, says Sonali Saini, Founder,
Sol's Arc, which has closely collaborated with Big Bazaar in this
initiative.

"We partnered with them for the first one on 3 December at the Matunga store
in Mumbai and this time we have worked with organizations in different
cities, says Saini. "We created a training pack for these organizations.
doing one-on-one trainings on the kind of support needed. We did it every
week for two hours.

Saini is especially happy with the manner in which all the organizations have
come together to make this happen. "Everyone was invested in the idea and
they all immediately jumped in together which is great.

Based on the response from the community, Big Bazaar will take a call on how
to improve the experience and eventually make it a permanent feature.

Among the 16 organizations is Action for Autism based in New
Delhi. Founder Merry Barua says the move is a major step
towards changing attitudes towards disability.

"Big Bazaar's initiative to introduce a Quiet Hour has to be seen as a hugely
empowering step. While in the initial period it will be about making the
stores autism-friendly, the wider impact will be to make society
autism-friendly and in fact disability-friendly. Ignorance and lack of
exposure creates the greatest divides in society. By bringing people on the
spectrum out into the midst of our everyday lives, Big Bazaar will be
striking at the root of this ignorance, says Barua.

Mumbai-based Seema Dhir, who has a son with autism, says
these are small ways to enable independence. "As they get older, we want out
children to learn shopping and how to live independently and it is great that
Big Bazaar is taking care to meet their needs and address factors that may
act as triggers for our children.

To register for the launch in your city, click on
https://www.bigbazaar.com/quiethour.

Related Links

Hi, I'm Bhavna Sharma. An Inclusion Strategist with Newz Hook. Yes, I am a person with disability. But that doesn’t define who I am. I am a youth, a woman and also the 1st Miss Disability of India 2013. I wanted to achieve something in life and I have been working for the last 9 years. I have recently completed my MBA in Human Resources because I want to grow. I am like every other young person in India. I want a good education, a good job and I want to help my family financially. So you can see I am like everyone else, yet people see me differently.

Here is the Ask Bhavna column for you where I would like to talk to you about the law, society and people’s attitudes and how we can build inclusion in India together.

So, if you have a question about any issue related to disability, bring them out and I can try to answer them? It could be a question relating to a policy or of a personal nature. Well, this is your space to find the answers!